Johannes Ambundii
Encyclopedia
Johannes VI Ambundii, Archbishopric of Riga 1418-1424, secular name Johannes Ambundii de Swan, also Abundi, Ambundij, Habundi, Habendi, Habindi, Almanni and ~ von Schwan (born 1384 - died on June 16, 1424) was a German
ecclesiastic. Ambundii is thought to be born in the area of Stettin (Szczecin)
in Pomerania. He studied at the Juristical University of Prague
, and graduated in 1391. Later, he got his doctor in theology
and canonical law.
of the bishop
of Bamberg
. In 1401, he was general vicar in Speyer
, and in 1408 general vicar in Würzburg
.
In 1412, he visited the Scottish convent of St. Ägidius in Nuremberg
, by order of the bishop of Bamberg. He was canon
of the church of Eichstädt
and provost
of Herriden in 1414 or 1415 and as such took part at the Council of Constance
. On November 27, 1416, he was elected bishop of Chur
and affirmed by the archbishop
of Mainz
, Johann II. Shortly afterwards, Ambundii returned to the council.
At this time, Italy, France and Spain demanded the immediate election of the pope
, while the Holy Roman Empire
preferred to first initiate the reform of the Church
. Ambundii convinced Emperor Sigismund
to give priority to the election.
On July 11, 1418 Pope Martin V
by recommendation of the Emperor nominated Johannes Ambundii to the position of Archbishopric of Riga where he stayed until 1424. In Riga Ambundii initiated the establishment of the Livonian Confederation
.
On October 13, 1418 Ambundii participated in the negotiations between the State of the Teutonic Order and the Kingdom of Poland
in Wileny.
Ambundii was unhappy with his new office in the far north. The German brothers from the order deemed him a bitter and scant man, which is not a laudable trait for great men as a chaplain
said. It was seen with anxiety that Ambundii was a counselor of the Emperor and considered his favorite. The order tried to acquire Livonia as independent property from the Emperor and feared Ambundii would act in opposition to the efforts. In fact, it was caused by him that the chapter
of Riga asked the pope to revoke the Bulle Bonifacii IX
, which incorporated the Church of Riga to the order.
In 1421 he acted as papal delegated judge
in a quarrel between the king of Sweden and the bishop of Uppsala
. In 1422 he organized a council
of the Prussia
n bishops, but it did not take place.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
ecclesiastic. Ambundii is thought to be born in the area of Stettin (Szczecin)
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
in Pomerania. He studied at the Juristical University of Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, and graduated in 1391. Later, he got his doctor in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and canonical law.
Career
From 1394–1399 he was general vicarVicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
. In 1401, he was general vicar in Speyer
Speyer
Speyer is a city of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany with approximately 50,000 inhabitants. Located beside the river Rhine, Speyer is 25 km south of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. Founded by the Romans, it is one of Germany's oldest cities...
, and in 1408 general vicar in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
.
In 1412, he visited the Scottish convent of St. Ägidius in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, by order of the bishop of Bamberg. He was canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of the church of Eichstädt
Eichstädt
Eichstädt is a village in Brandenburg, Germany. It is not to be confused with Eichstätt, Bavaria....
and provost
Provost (religion)
A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...
of Herriden in 1414 or 1415 and as such took part at the Council of Constance
Council of Constance
The Council of Constance is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, held from 1414 to 1418. The council ended the Three-Popes Controversy, by deposing or accepting the resignation of the remaining Papal claimants and electing Pope Martin V.The Council also condemned and...
. On November 27, 1416, he was elected bishop of Chur
Bishop of Chur
The Bishop of Chur is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Chur, Grisons, Switzerland .-History:...
and affirmed by the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, Johann II. Shortly afterwards, Ambundii returned to the council.
At this time, Italy, France and Spain demanded the immediate election of the pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, while the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
preferred to first initiate the reform of the Church
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
. Ambundii convinced Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
to give priority to the election.
On July 11, 1418 Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V
Pope Martin V , born Odo Colonna, was Pope from 1417 to 1431. His election effectively ended the Western Schism .-Biography:...
by recommendation of the Emperor nominated Johannes Ambundii to the position of Archbishopric of Riga where he stayed until 1424. In Riga Ambundii initiated the establishment of the Livonian Confederation
Livonian Confederation
Terra Mariana was the official name for Medieval Livonia or Old Livonia which was formed in the aftermath of the Livonian Crusade in the territories comprising present day Estonia and Latvia...
.
On October 13, 1418 Ambundii participated in the negotiations between the State of the Teutonic Order and the Kingdom of Poland
Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)
The Kingdom of Poland of the Jagiellons was the Polish state created by the accession of Jogaila , Grand Duke of Lithuania, to the Polish throne in 1386. The Union of Krewo or Krėva Act, united Poland and Lithuania under the rule of a single monarch...
in Wileny.
Ambundii was unhappy with his new office in the far north. The German brothers from the order deemed him a bitter and scant man, which is not a laudable trait for great men as a chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
said. It was seen with anxiety that Ambundii was a counselor of the Emperor and considered his favorite. The order tried to acquire Livonia as independent property from the Emperor and feared Ambundii would act in opposition to the efforts. In fact, it was caused by him that the chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
of Riga asked the pope to revoke the Bulle Bonifacii IX
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
, which incorporated the Church of Riga to the order.
In 1421 he acted as papal delegated judge
Papal judge-delegate
A papal judge delegate was a type of judicial appointment created during the 12th century by the medieval papacy where the pope would designate a local judge, often an ecclesiastic, to decide a case that had been appealed to the papal court....
in a quarrel between the king of Sweden and the bishop of Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
. In 1422 he organized a council
Ecumenical council
An ecumenical council is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice....
of the Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n bishops, but it did not take place.